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Optimizing Charge Cycles and Battery Life

Due to its cutting-edge characteristics, Li-ion technology is the first choice for modern high-performance batteries. Li-ion batteries are up to 30 percent smaller and 50 percent lighter than conventional NiMH batteries yet store much more energy. While they offer concrete advantages in terms of size, weight, recharge speed and resistance to memory effects, Li-ion batteries do have higher cost compared to other battery types. This can be improved by using a battery management system which optimizes the battery performance. The Atmel® Li-ion battery management solution offers high accuracy analog measurement functions in combination with efficient active cell balancing ensuring optimum usage of battery capacity.

Atmel Li-Ion battery management ICs offer simultaneous cell voltage measurement for the entire battery stack. Measuring the cell voltage of a battery stack at the same time and at the same battery current provides more precise results when calculating the battery's state-of-charge and state-of-health. Active cell balancing with currents in the range of 1A to 3 A enables customers to perform cell balancing during the charging and discharging process. During charging, weak cells can be aligned to ensure that all cells within a stack are charged to their maximum capacity. Energy-efficient active cell balancing during the discharging process allows for feeding weak cells with the energy of stronger cells. This permits to fully utilize the capacity of all cells within a stack until the last Coulomb. The cell voltage measurement and active cell balancing features help to maximize the available battery capacity, extend the cruising range of electrical vehicles, and to reduce cost.